Community Resources

General Social Services

211 First Call For Help – Information about local and statewide services, assistance and programs. Live Operator answers calls and searches database for best referral.

Elder Abuse Hotline

Indiana Adult Protective Services Hotline: 1-800-992-6978

Missing Children/Endangered Adults

Indiana Clearinghouse for Information on Missing Children and Missing Endangered Adults – The State Police Silver Alert toll-free telephone number (1-800-831-8953) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive immediate sighting information on possible missing children and missing endangered adults, to receive any related lead information, to receive recovery information, and to respond to requests for information and assistance.

Legal Services

Indiana Legal Services – Indiana Legal Services (ILS) is a nonprofit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to eligible low-income people throughout the state of Indiana. ILS helps clients who are faced with legal problems that harm their ability to have such basics as food, shelter, income, medical care or personal safety. 812- 339-7668 or 1-800-822-4774.

Area 10 Agency on Aging – A private, not-for-profit corporation serving elderly persons in Monroe and Owen Counties to provide a wide variety of high quality, affordable services to the over 28,000 citizens 55 years of age and older in this area, and to others in the community who have concerns with older family members or friends. 812-876-3383 or 1-800-844-1010.

Elder Law Clinic at Indiana Legal Services – Provides legal assistance to clients age 60 and older on a wide range of civil legal problems in areas like housing, consumer law, tax, advance directives, and family law. 812-339-7668 or 1-800-822-4774

Arc of Indiana – Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.

Stone Belt – Provides a variety of services for children and adults with disabilities. For adults with developmental disabilities, Stone Belt provides residential, educational, employment services and mental health supports. Stone Belt’s Milestones clinic specializes in persons with disabilities as well as children, adolescents, young adults and their families.

Alzheimer’s Association of Indiana – The state chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, which is the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research.

IndianaConsumer.com – The state’s one-stop resource for consumer information and education brought to you by the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Indiana Attorney General Consumer Complaint – You can file a consumer complaint with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office online or by filling out a printable form. You can also request a complaint form by calling 1-800-382-5516 or 317-232-6330.

Consumer credit reporting companies – If your personal information has been compromised you may contact one of the three major consumer credit reporting companies to place an “initial fraud alert” on your credit report.
– Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
– Experian: 1-800-397-3742
– Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

Mail Fraud

U.S. Postal Inspection Service – The mission of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is to support and protect the U.S. Postal Service and its employees, infrastructure, and customers; enforce the laws that defend the nation’s mail system from illegal or dangerous use; and ensure public trust in the mail.

Home Improvement Fraud

Indiana Attorney General Consumer Complaint – You can file a consumer complaint with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office online or by filling out a printable form. You can also request a complaint form by calling 1-800-382-5516 or 317-232-6330.

Emergency Financial Assistance

Monroe County Township Trustees: The township trustee is an elected official charged with providing temporary emergency assistance to Township residents who are experiencing an unforeseen hardship. The trustee helps with basic necessities such as rent, utilities, food, and some medical care. Please see the list below and contact the Township in which you live.

Health and Wellness

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) – WIC is a special nutrition program that provides supplemental foods, nutrition counseling, and access to health services to low-income women, infants, and children under the age of five. 812-353-3221

Domestic Violence Resources

If you are the victim of domestic violence and are afraid for your safety, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and a police report has already been made, please contact the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office Domestic Violence Victim Assistant: Cheryl Gafken, (812) 349-7376, cgafken@co.monroe.in.us

If you are the victim in a pending domestic violence case in which charges have been filed by the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office, the Domestic Violence Deputy Prosecutor is April Wilson: (812) 349-2670, awilson@co.monroe.in.us

If you would like to talk with someone confidentially about your situation, call (812) 336-0846, the Middle Way House 24 hour crisis hotline. You may call collect if necessary.

You may also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline staffed 24 hours 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), 1-800-787-3224 (TDD).

Domestic Violence Emergency Shelter Services

Middle Way House offers many programs and services to women and children victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Middle Way House provides emergency shelter, victim advocacy, and legal services to survivors. (812) 336-0846. 24/7 hotline. Services are free and confidential.

Safe Custody Exchange Services

Family Solutions provides services for families in need, including a service for divorced, separated, and never married parents to exchange children for scheduled parenting time under neutral supervision in a safe, child-friendly environment. (812) 327-4584.

Middle Way House offers many programs and services to women and children victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Middle Way House provides emergency shelter, victim advocacy, and legal services to survivors. (812) 336-0846. 24/7 hotline. Services are free and confidential.

National Alliance on Mental Illness – The nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community for hope for all of those in need.

Parenting Resources

Bloomington Area Birth Services – Provides services for women and families navigating the experience of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. 812-337-8121

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana – Serves as a catalyst for preventing child abuse in all its forms and thereby enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Indiana.

Healthy Families – Support and encouragement for new parents. By building confidence, reducing stress and maximizing the joys of becoming a new mother or father, Healthy Families helps parents and children grow together.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program – WIC is a special nutrition program that provides supplemental foods, nutrition counseling, and access to health services to low-income women, infants, and children under the age of five. 812-353-3221

Kids First – Promotes the health of children and reduce infant mortality by funding programs which prevent child abuse and neglect.

Catholic Social Charities – Individual, couple and family counseling in Spanish and English for all ages. Services are offered on a sliding-fee scale. Parent education and support programs in a variety of areas including child development, discipline, and addressing drug and alcohol issues in youth.

Family Solutions – Provides counseling and supportive services to children and families who are at-risk for experiencing out of home placement or have had children removed from the home. 812-335-1926

Sexual Assault/Child Sexual Abuse

Middle Way House offers many programs and services to women and children victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Middle Way House provides emergency shelter, victim advocacy, and legal services to survivors. (812) 336-0846. 24/7 hotline. Services are free and confidential.

IU Sexual Assault Crisis Services helps any member of the Indiana University community who has experienced an assault. If you or someone you know has been assaulted, call the Sexual Assault Crisis Service Line at 812-855-8900 for immediate assistance. Specially trained counselors are ready to
respond 24 hours a day to:

Provide immediate and ongoing psychological support

Get immediate medical care, if needed

Assist you in contacting law enforcement, if you wish to do that

If you are interested in more information or want to schedule an appointment with a counselor, call 812-855-5711.

RAINN (Rape Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE and http://online.rainn.org/) in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country
and operates the DoD Safe Helpline (https://www.safehelpline.org/) for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.

Darkness to Light – Operates programs raise awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse.

Susie’s Place is a child advocacy center serving Monroe and surrounding counties. Forensic Interviews are done at Susie’s Place when there is an allegation of child abuse. 812-822-1570

Riley Hospital for Children Center of Hope provides comprehensive medical evaluation for children alleged to have been sexually abused. The clear majority of children are referred by child protective services and law enforcement; health care providers are the second most common source of referral. Services are provided by dedicated physicians, nurses, social workers, and forensic nurse examiners. The Center of Hope is a major source of expertise and consultation for Indianapolis and much of central Indiana with requests from throughout the entire state. For services call 317.944.5000 and ask to speak
with the Pediatric Center of Hope nurse on call.

Child Abuse & Neglect

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana works with community, state and national groups to expand and disseminate information about child abuse prevention. Further, Prevent Child Abuse Indiana translates that information into action through the development of sound child- and family-oriented policies, community-based prevention activities, public awareness and educational initiatives.

Monroe County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a non-profit organization that recruits, trains and supervises court appointed volunteers to advocate for children who are involved in juvenile court due to abuse or neglect. Volunteer advocacy is based on the belief that all children are entitled to a safe and permanent home.

Susie’s Place is a child advocacy center serving Monroe and surrounding counties. Forensic Interviews are done at Susie’s Place when there is an allegation of child abuse. 812-822-1570

Community Mediation

Criminal Justice

The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute – Guided by a Board of Trustees representing all components of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice systems, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) serves as the state’s planning agency for criminal justice, juvenile justice, traffic safety, and victim services. The Institute develops long-range strategies for the effective administration of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice systems and administers federal and state funds to carry out these strategies.

National District Attorneys Association is the oldest and largest professional organization representing criminal prosecutors in the world. Its members come from the offices of district attorneys, state’s attorneys, attorneys general, and county and city prosecutors with responsibility for prosecuting criminal violations in every state and territory of the United States.

Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Association (IPAC) is a non-partisan, independent state judicial branch agency and was created by statute in 1973. It is made up of Indiana’s 91 prosecuting attorneys and their chief deputies and governed by a 10 member Board of Directors chosen from among the state’s prosecuting attorneys. The IPAC assists prosecuting attorneys by preparing manuals, providing legal research, and conducting training seminars. It serves as a liaison to local, state, and federal agencies, study commissions, and community groups in an effort to support law enforcement and promote the fair administration of justice.